Progress

Sign the Petition to

UK Government

We object to the removal of Housing Benefit (HB) coupled with a failure to introduce any other scheme, such as Universal Credit, which would Pay Rent for people under the age of 25.

We believe that this reform will lead to a massive increase in the number of street homeless youths, who will be vulnerable to criminals and others wishing to exploit those in desperate need.

Under 25s represent the highest percentage of any age group in the unemployed of the country. They are therefore not likely to be able to find work to cover rent payments, bills etc. to allow them to have the basics.

We believe that under 25s, currently having a home due only to HB support have little realistic chance of finding work to allow them to support themselves or accommodation of any other kind, given that they will have no means of offering anything in the way of rent or even basic board payments. This group of young people will therefore be thrust into Poverty.

We believe that the effect on these young people will be enormous and is outrageous. It will not only be these youths who are effected by the reform but also their families and friends who will be in a terrible position. It is likely that wider society will also suffer with the massive increases in young homeless forecast to occur within months of the reform taking place. So many people on the streets will be visible and desperate. Desperate people, living in poverty, have few options. They may resort to begging, prostitution or allowing themselves to be abused or to becoming criminals or abusers themselves, as a way of trying to claim out of poverty. Given the stark choices they will be faced with It would not be unreasonable to assume that suicide and self harming rates will also increase massively amongst this group.

We plead that a rent payment element be introduced for the Under 25s to allow them the opportunity to have the bare minimum of life's essentials, a place to live.

Signed,

Karen Sorrell

This petition closed almost 2 years ago

How this will help

Consider the options for a young person currently living in a rented property. The unemployment benefit they receive is in the region of £56 per week. Once the reform takes place, unless they can...

Consider the options for a young person currently living in a rented property. The unemployment benefit they receive is in the region of £56 per week. Once the reform takes place, unless they can find work, this will be all they have to house, feed and pay for everything necessary for a basic standard of life. In terms of the most basic needs, these people will be in complete poverty without a means to even have a place of safety to sleep. How can we Not act?